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March 26, 1929. A. G. SMITH MEANS FOR DEFLATING TIRE TUBES Inueni'or.

March 26, 1929. A, (5. SMITH 06,

MEANS FOR DEFLATING TIRE TUBES Filed July 21, 192'? 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Marh 26, 1929. A. 6. SMITH MEANS F OR DE 'LATING TIRE TUBES Filed July 21, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor:

AZ bani G. S m 11%,

@V 6U N Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

V ALBERT G. SMITH, F AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MILLER RUBBER COMPANY, OF

' AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

MEANS FOR DEFLATING TIRE TUBES.

Application filed July 21, 1927. Serial No. 207,502.

In the manufacture of inner tubes for pneumatic tires, it is customary, after the completion of the tubes, to inflate them for the purpose of testing them in a water bath to ascertain if any air leaks are present in any of the tubes. Thereafter, substantially all air must be removed from the tubes and the same thoroughly .dried before they are packed in cartons for shipment to the trade. A material portion of the air will of course escape when the inflating valve is held open, but sufficient will remain in the tubes to prevent their being properly folded.

One method of removing this has been by applying suction to the valve stems, but this, in'addition to being a relatively slow process, was found to exhaust all the air from the tubes and, as a small quantity should be allowed to remain, required the subsequent injection of such small quantity with the attendant trouble and expense.

The present invention aims to provide apparatus by means of which the tubes may be rapidly and economically deflated to the desired extent.

The invention further aims to provide such means in which the amount of air left in the tubes may be readily varied according to circumstances.

The invention also aims to provide means of this character in which the parts are so constructed and arranged as to enable economical and efficient manipulation by the operators, ready inspection of the tubes, and the complete drying of the tubes while on the machine.

lVith these and other objects in View, the invention includes the novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and defined by the appended claims.

hat I at present consider the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a a side elevation, partlybroken away. I

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the right-hand portion of Fig. 1 with parts omitted and other parts in section. v

Fig. 4 is a section on line l-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the tube bangers with tubes thereon.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the deflator attachments, and

Fig. 7 is a section through a valve stem, with the deflator in place thereon.

.Referring by reference characters to this drawing, the numeral 1 designates an endless conveyor, preferably of the link type, as shown, which at the end not shown may extend to any desired distance to bring it in convenient position for the testing operators. The links 1 of the conveyor are connected by the customary link pins 1 except at suitable intervals where said pins are extended down wardly as indicated at 1, to carry the tube supports 2 which are in the shape of cross bars having slightly curved outer ends. As the conveyor in practice extends for a considerable distance, the portions between the supporting and driving sprockets are maintained against sagging by rollers 3, Fig. 4, running on tracks 5 secured to bracket members 6 carried by the main frame members 7.

The rollers 3 are journaled on the arms of T headed members 1, the vertical portion of the T being formed as an upward continuation of certain of the pins 1' At the points where the roller supports occur, the hanger are made independent of the pins 1 and have their vertical shanks 1, Fig. 4, tapped into threaded axial openings in the pin portions 1 which latter are made integral with the members 1.

Said shanks 1 are held against displacement by lock nuts 0. I

To impart a certain amount of vertical flexibility to the conveyor, linkmembers 1 are provided at intervals which are connected to the next adjacent link members by horizontal pivots 1.

The conveyor is driven by a sprocket t fast on a vertical shaft 8 which carries a bevel gear 9 meshing with a gear 10 on the shaft 11 of a speed reducing unit (so designated) which in turn is driven by a suitable prime mover such as the electric motor conventionally shown and marked Motor.

The sprocket has its teeth spaced apart double the length of the links so that the teeth always skip the link members 1 The opposite end of the chain passes around an idle sprocket of a similar nature not necessary to be shown herein.

For the pur ose of holding the valves open for deflation, provide what 1 term defiatere 0 f the valve scribed.

from Fig. 5 for convenience. As

shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7 which comprise spring clips 12 having angular bent overlapping feet 12 provided with apertures of a size to receive the threaded portion 13 stem 13 of the tube. Normally the arms of the spring clip 12 tend to spring apart so that the apertures are out of alignment shown in Fig. 6, but when an operator compresses the clip the apertures are brought into alignment and the dcfl'ator may be placed on the valve stem asshown in Fig. 7 at which time the pin 12'. engages the valve pin 13* and forces the same in, to allow escape of air. Release .of con'ipression on the clip 12 causes the apertured feet to ei'igage the threads of the valve stem so that the valve will. be held open as lon tached' thereto.

The operator having applied the deflator clips touthe ztubes which thereby become par- Wthe clip is tially deflated by natural contraction, sae thereupon hangs the tubes, in pairs, on the cross arms 2 and they are conveyed continuously to the means for effecting completion o the deflation by compression. Such means comprises pair of compressor belts 1 1 and 15, disposed in vertical planes and having converging runs indicated at 1 1- and 15.

The conveyor chain 1 is located in a plane somewhat above the upper edges of. the belts so that the hangers 2 clear said upper edges as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The belts aredriven in unison and in synchronism with the conveyor as hereinafter de- The operatoror operators at the testing station, hang the :tu es on the hangers 2 with the deflat-ors 12 on the valve stems shown in F 7, said deflators being omitted.

the conveyor .moves the suspended tubes towards the compressor belts, the depenoing portions of the tubes enter the mouth of the converging spacebetween the juxtaposed runs of the belt, a -d said converging runs graduallyfiatten out the tubes and expel the air therefron'i clearly shown in 2, means being provided by which said juxtaposed runs of the belt are held to their work as hereinafter described.

At the initial end, the belts pass around idle rolls 1 1 and 15, mounted on, shafts 1 1 and 15 which are journaled at top and bottom in ldablc bearings 16 and 17 carried in guides 18., 19 fast to fixed frame members, means-being provided, such as screw rods 20 for adjusting the tension of the belts.

At the opposite end, belt 14 passes around a relatively large driving drum 21 fast on shaft 8, and of substantially the same diamcter as the sprocket to insure equal sneed of same speed as belt 14:. drums are flanged to prevent displacement of the belts thereon.

of the acri )llQl'V of drum ..1 w

3 and bottoms of the pulleys chain 25, sprocket 26 on counter shaft 27 and intermeshinp gears 2a, the train of gearing being, such that belt 15 is driven at the The belt carrying In order to hold the tube con'ipressin.

por-

lateral deflection thereof, 1 provide two sel'ics of "idle rolls 3i) and 31 jeurnaled on vertical shafts carried by line... f ame members. and .a series of similar idle rolls 31 carried by apivotcd frame men'ibcr 31", articulated on a vertical axis 81.

The fran'ie member 32 terminates just short hile the movable end of the pivotd frame 31" overlaps the periphery of the drum so that the terminal roller thereon is approximately diametrically opposite to the axis of the drum, so that the final tune compressing action is between said terminal roller and the drum Q1.

Said movable end of the frame 31" is yieldingly pressed towards the drum by a compres .sion spring 33 confined between a fixed abutment 3e: :and a flange or collar 35 on the end of a rod 35 which passes through an opening in the abutmentand an aligned opening in a part of the frame member o1", which rod is threaded to receive a correspondingly thread-- ed hand wheel nut36 by which tension on the spring may be varied acco-"ding to requirements, and so as to leave more or less air in the tubes as desire l. It will .be understood that the parts 3336 are in duplicate and located at the top and bottom corners of the frame so as to be above and below the tops and belts respecti ely, only the lower one appearing in Fig.2.

In practice the belts and conveyor chain are driven at a relatively slow speed which. on-

ables the operator at the testing station to readily hang the tubes on the supports, and the other operators to perform their duties.

An operator is also preferably stationed at the initial end of the compressor belts (position A, Fig. 2), to examine the tubes and make sure the stems are at the top, (in the position shown in Fig. .5), so that said steu'is will not pass between the converging; runs of the belts, and do damage to the belts or tubes. A. second operator is preferably stationed at 13 where he or she may examine the tubes for imperfections,for which purpose she may shift the tube around on its hanger, preferably leaving the valve stem in the position shown in Fig. 1 to indicate to the subsequent operator thatthe tube has been examined. Any tubes found to be defective are removed at station B.

In leaving the surface of drum 21, the belt 14.- is deflected away from the conveyor by means of idle roll 3"? and top and bottom guides 38, 38' having channels which receive the edges of the belt which causes the return flight of the conveyor 1 to travel free of the corresponding run of belt 1%.

At a suitable point indicated at station C, Fig. 2 an operator removes all tubes, which after their relatively long period of travel have become well dried, and places them on racks assorted as to size and ready for cartoning.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. Apparatus for expelling air from tire tubes comprising means for moving the tubes in suspended conditon, and means for applying pressure to opposite outer sides of the tubes during such movement to expel the air therefrom.

2. Apparatus for expelling the air from tire tubes comprising means for holding the valves in open position, means for conveying the tubes from a testing station to a remote station, and means for gradually applying pressure to opposite outer sides of the tubes to expel air therefrom during such movement.

Apparatus for expelling air from tire tubes comprising means for moving the tubes in suspended condition, and means for applying pressure to opposite outer sides of the tubes during such movement to expel the air therefrom and means for varying the amount of pressure applied to said tubes.

4. Apparatus for expelling air from tire tubes comprising means for moving tubes in a continuous series from one point to another, and means acting against the outer sides of the tubes for compressing the tubes during such movement.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising an endless conveyor having means for holding tubes in suspended position, and a pair of compressor belts for engaging opposite sides of the depending portions of said tubes, said compressor belts having convergmg runs.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising an endless conveyor having means for holding tubes in suspended position, and a pair of compressor belts for engaging opposite sides of the depending portions of said tubes, said compressor belts having converging runs, and guide means acting against the opposite faces of the belts to prevent deflection thereof.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising an endless conveyor having means for holding tubes in suspended position, and

a pair of compressor belts for engaging opposite sides of the depending portions of said tubes, said compressor belts having con verging runs, and guide means acting against the opposite faces of the belts to prevent deileetion thereof, a portion of said means being adjustable to vary the amount of compression.

8. Apparatus of the class described coinprising an endless moving conveyor having means for holding tire tubes in suspended position, a pair of endless moving COHIQI'GfwSOl belts having converging runs for engagi opposite sides of the depending portions of the tubes and two converging series of idle rolls engaging the opposite faces of said belts.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising anendless moving conveyor having means for suspending tubes thereon, a pair of endless moving compressor belts having converging runs for acting upon opposite sides of the suspcniiled jmrtious of said tubes, two converging series of presser rollers journaled to rotate about fixed axis and adapted to engage the outer faces of the converging run port :5 of the bells, one of said series of rollers being extended beyond. the other, a pivoted frame carrying corresponding rollers overlying said extended portionof said series of rollers, and yieldable presser means acting on the free end of said frame.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising an endless moving conveyor having tube suspending means, a pair of endless moving compressor belts having juxtaposed runs for contact with opposite sides of the depending portions of said tubes, frame mem bers between which said runs pass, and a series of idle rollers carried by each frame member for acting net the belt runs, and means for adjustitng one of said frame members relative to the other.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising an endless moving conveyor having tube suspending means, a pair of endless moving compressor belts having juxtaposed runs for contact it, the opposite sides of the depending poi sions of said tubes, frame members between which said runs pass, and a series of idle rollers carried by each frame member for acting against the belt runs, one of said frame members being pivoted at one end, and means for applying yielding pressure to the other end of said frame member.

12, Apparatus of the class described comprising an endless moving conveyor for bolding tire tubes in suspended position, a pair of endless moving compressor belts having converging uxtaposed runs for engaging opposite sides of the depending portions of said tubes and means for causing said conveyor and one of said belts to travel in diverging paths after leaving the point of final compression. 7

13. In apparatus of the class described, an endless chain conveyor having means for suspending tire tubes therefrom, a driving sprocket therefor rotatable about a vertical axis, a belt driving pulley beneath said sprocket and of substantially equal size, an endless belt passing around said pulley, antifriction means adjacent said pulley for sustaining one run of the belt against deflection, an endless belt having a run opposed to said run of the first named bolt and anti-friction means adjacent said run of the second belt for sustaining it against deflection, said antilriction means converging towards each other and said last named anti-friction means having an end portion overlying the periphery of the belt driving drum and yieldingly pressed towards the same. I V

ll. In apparatus of the class described, an endless chain conveyor with means for driving it reeks above the runs of said Conveyor, roller means connected With the conveyor for engaging said tracks, tube supporting means carried by said conveyor chain e pair of endless compressor belts having juxtaposed eonverging runs beneath one run of said conveyor chain and means for sustainin conver in 7 b 23 D portions of said belts against deflection.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14- in W nch the conveyor chain has at intervals hnk members articulated on pivots transverse to the main link pivots.

16. 'If he herein described method of expelling the a'; from tire tubes which consists in holding them with the valve tube portions uppermost and the valves open and with the remaining portions of the tubes depending freely, moving them progressively while so suspended and applying pressure to the outer sides of the depending portions from opposite sides 01 the line of movement.

17. The herein described method of expelling the air from tire tubes which consists in holding them with the valve tube portions up perinost and the valves open and with the reinaining portions of the tubes depending freely, moving them progr ively while so suspended, and grad ually applying pressure to the outer sides of the depending portions from opposite sides of the line of n'ioveinent.

In testimony whereof, I ai'iix my signature.

ALBERT G. SMILTH. 

